thing which we desire pag. 166. That true comfort is to be sought in God alone pag. 169. That all our care is to be placed in God pag. 171. That temporall miseries by the exāple of Christ are to be born patiently pag. 173. Of suffering of iniuries and who is proued to be truly patient pag. 175. Of the acknowledging of our owne infirmity and of the miseries of this life pag. 178. That we are to rest in God aboue all his gifts pag. 181. Of the remembrance of the manifould benefits of God pag. 186. Of foure things that bring much peace pag. 190. Of flying curious inquiry of the life of others pag. 193. VVherin doth the firme peace of the hart and true profit consist pag. 194. Of the excellency of a free mind which humble prayer bettter deserueth then reading pag. 197. That priuate loue most hindreth from the chiefest good pag. 199. Against the tongue of Slaūderers pag. 202. How we ought to call vpon God and blesse him when tribulation draweth neere pag. 203. Of crauing the diuine aide confidence of recouering grace pag. 205. Of the contempt of all creatures to find our Creatour pag. 209. Of the denyall of our selues and for saking our affections pag. 212. Of Inconstancy of hart and of directing our finall intentions vnto God pag. 215. That God is sweet aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth pag. 216. That there is no security from temptation in this life pag. 219. Against the vain iudgmēts of men pag. 221. Of a full and pure resignation of our selues for the obtaining freedome of hart pag. 223. Of good gouernment in outward things of recourse to God in dāgers pag. 226. That a man be not ouer earnest in his affaires pag. 228. That man hath no good of himselfe nor any thing wherof he can glory pag. 229. Of the cōtempt of all temporal honours pag. 232. That our peace is not to be placed in men pag. 233. Against vain secular knowledg pag. 235. Of not drawing outward things to our selues pag. 238. That credit is not to be giuen to all men and how prone man is to offend in words pag. 239. Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise pag. 243. That all grieuous things are to be endured for life euer lasting pag. 247. Of the euerlasting day and shortnesse of this life pag. 249. Of the desire of euerlasting life and how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly pag. 254. How a desolate person ought to offer himself into the hands of God pag. 259. That a man ought to imploy himselfe in works of humilty when force is wāting for higher exercises pag. 265. That a man ought to esteeme himselfe vnworthy of comfort and to haue deserued stripes pag. 266. That the grace of God is not giuen to those that sauour of earthly things pag. 269. Of the different motions of Nature Grace pag. 272. Of the corruption of nature efficacy of diuine grace pag. 278. That we ought to deny our selues and imitate Christ by the Crosse pag. 282. That a man be not too much deiected whē he falleth into some defects pag. 285. Of not searching into high matters and into the secret iudgmēts of God pag. 288. That all our hope trust is to be fixed in God alone pag. 295. THE FOVRTH BOOKE VVITH how great reuerence Christ is to be receaued pag. 300. That great goodnesse charity of God is bestowed vpon man in this Sacrament pag. 308. That it is profitable to communicate often pag. 313. That many benefits are bestowed vpon them that cōmunicate deuoutly pag. 317. Of the dignity of this Sacrament and Priestly function pag. 321. An Interrogation of the exercise before Communion pag. 325. Of the discussing of our owne conscience purpose of amendment pag. 326. Of the oblation of Christ on the Crosse resignation of our selues pag. 329. That we ought to offer vp our selues and all that is ours vnto God and to pray for all pag. 331. That the holy Communion is not lightly to be forborne pag. 335. That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faithfull soule pag. 340. That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence pag. 346. That a deuout soule ought to desire with her whole hart to be vnited vnto Christ in the Sacrament pag. 349. Of the feruent desire of some deuout persōs to receaue the body of Christ pag. 352. That the grace of deuotiō is obtained by humility denial of our selues pag. 354. That we ought to manifest our necessities vnto Christ to craue his grace pag. 357. Of burning loue and vehement desire to receaue Christ pag. 359. That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacramēt but an hūble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith pag. 363. OF THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST THE FIRST BOOKE CHAP. I. Of the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world HE that followeth me Ioan. 8. walketh not in darknesse saith our Lord. These are the words of Christ by which we are admonished that we ought to imitate his life and manners if we will be partakers of his diuine light and be deliuered from all blindnesse of hart Let therfore our chiefest care be to meditate vpon the life of Iesus Christ 2. The doctrine of Christ exceedeth all the doctrine of the Saints and he that had the light of spirit would discouer therin a secret and hidden Manna But it falleth out that many who often heare the Ghospell of Christ do yet feele in themselues but slender motion of any holy desire because they are void of the spirit of Christ But whosoeuer will fully and feelingly vnderstand the words of Christ must endeauour to conforme his life wholy to the life of Christ 3. What will it auaile thee to dispute profoundly of the Trinity if thou be voyd of humility and therby displeasing to the Trinity High words surely make a man neither holy nor iust but a vertuous life maketh him deare to God I had rather feele compunction then vnderstand the definition therof 1. Cor. 13. If thou didest know the whole Bible by hart and the sayings of all the Philosophers what would all that profit thee without charity and the grace of God Vanity of vanities and all is vanity but only to loue God Eccles 1. and wholy to serue him This is the highest wisdome by contempt of the world to tend towards the Kingdome of heauen 4. It is therfore vanity to seeke after fading riches and to repose trust in them It is also vanity to gape after honours and to climbe to high degrees It is vanity to follow the appetites of the flesh and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer more grieuous punishment Vanity it is to wish to liue long and to be carelesse to liue well It is vanity to mind only
THE FOLLOVVING OF CHRIST Deuided into foure Bookes Written in Latin by the Learned and Deuout man THOMAS à KEMPIS Chanon-Regular of the Order of S. Augustine AND Translated into English by B. F. I H S Permissu Superiorum M.DC.XIII TO THE HONOVRABLE AND VERTVOVS ELIZABETH VAVX Mother to the LORD Harrodowne HONOVRABLE AND RIGHT WORTHY THE publike demonstratiō which you haue lately giuen of your true desire to follow the footsteps of our Lord vndergoing so heauy a Crosse for his sake with so ready and resolued a mind hath moued me to dedicate this little Booke of the Imitation of Christ vnto You assuring my selfe that it will be no lesse gratefull to You to see it appeare in light purged from many mistaken sentences which were in the former Translation then the reading and practice therof will be profitable to others it being so diuine and excellent a worke as in the opinion of such as can best iudge of this matter of all the Bookes which are written that treate of spirit and Christian Perfection the holy Scripture excepted it is inferiour to none if it excelleth not all No ' booke hath byn more approued by generall consent none more often printed and translated into diuers languages none more esteemed commended yea commaunded also by the chiefe Maisters of Spirit of some Religious Orders to be often read by euery one in priuate and once a weeke publikely to all So full of sweet sense is this diuine Flower that the most spirituall bees may dayly draw from thence great plenty of celestiall hony It is a dish of so diuine meate that it neuer satiates the deuout mind but as the Wisdome of God doth promise to all such as fit at that heauenly banquet so shall they find in this spirituall food The more they eate it Eccl. 4. the more they shall hunger after it And the reason heerof is for that it contayneth so great depth of spirit and so great store and variety of heauenly documents that it seemeth euer new to the Reader and like another Manna affoardeth to euery one that delightfull tast which best agreeth with the palate of his soule and none can loath it but they whose lustes do carry them to Aegyptian slauery A true Israelite may feed vpon it fourty yeares togeather and euer find such pleasing tast and increasing strength by vse therof as will sustaine him in the desert of this world enable him to goe on without fainting till he arriue at his promised inheritance of eternall rest The practise of that which this Booke doth teach couereth the soule with the rich garment of grace and adorneth it with the splendent pearles of Euangelicall Perfection which maketh vs more pleasing in the sight of God then can the deckings of all earthly iewells make the fayrest Lady in the Kingdome where you are appeare beautifull to the eyes of men It returneth aboundant Gayne for sustained Losses and enlargeth the Liberty which is now restrayned It raiseth vp to cheerefull confidence the debased head and placeth in a Throno of endles Honour those who in this world doe seeme imprisoned in the blacke cloud of disgrace To Yov therfore who haue so willingly endured the losse of your earthly substance I haue thought good to present this Euangelicall Pearle and incomparable Treasure contayned in a little roome Heere you shall find the most perfect manner of conforming our selues to Christ our heauenly Patterne and see the vertues set forth in their colours which did most shine in the life of our Lord himselfe and read in plaine and vulgar phrase those Lessons of high Perfection which are commended vnto vs by the highest Wisdome and which haue made as many Saints as they haue had diligent and obseruant followers ACCEPT therfore I beseech you this little Present presented by him who wisheth you much more temporall happinesse then your present state affoardeth and that endles glory wherof your present suffering is no vncertaine pledge This first of Nouember 1612. Yours in all duty B. F. A TABLE Of the Chapters of this ensuing Booke THE FIRST BOOKE OF the imitation of Christ and contempt of all the vanities of the world CHAP. 1. pag. 1. Of the hūble conceipt of our selues p. 4. Of the doctrine of truth pag. 7. Of prudence and foresight in our actions pag. 11. Of the reading of holy Scriptures pag. 13. Of inordinate desires affections pag. 14. Of flying vaine Hope Pride pag. 15. That too much familiarity is to be shunned pag. 17. Of Obedience Subiection pag. 18. Of auoiding superfluity of words pag. 20. Of the obtayning of peace and zeale of spirituall profit pag. 22. Of the profit of Aduersity pag. 25. Of resisting Temptations pag. 26. Of auoyding rash iudgment pag. 31 Of VVorkes done of Charity pag. 33. Of bearing with the defects of others pag. 34. Of Religious life pag. 36. Of the examples of the holy Fathers pag. 38. Of the Excercise of a good and Religious person pag. 42. Of the loue of Solitude Silence pag. 46. Of Compunction of hart pag. 52. Of the cōsideratiō of humane misery pag. 56. Of the consideration of Death pag. 60. Of Iudgment and the punishment of sinne pag. 66. Of the feruent amendment of our whole life pag. 71. THE SECOND BOOKE OF spirituall cōuersation pag. 80. Of humble submission pag. 86. Of a good and peaceable man pag. 87. Of a pure mind vpright intentiō pag. 90. Of the consideration of ones self pag. 92. Of the cōfort of a good Conscience pag. 94. Of the loue of Iesus aboue all things pag. 97. Of familiar cōuersation with Iesus pag. 99. Of the want of all comfort pag. 102. Of thankfulnes for the Grace of God pag. 107. How few the louers of the Crosse of Christ are pag. 111. Of the high way of the holy Crosse pag. 114. THE THIRD BOOKE OF the in ward speach of Christ vnto a faithfull soule pag. 129. That truth speaketh inwardly without noyse of words pag. 127. That the wordes of God are to be heard with humility and that many weigh them not pag. 129. That we ought to liue in truth and humility in the sight of God pag. 133. Of the wonderfull effect of diuine grace pag. 136. Of the proofe of a true Louer pag. 141. That grace is to be hid vnder the veile of humility pag. 145. Of a meane conceipt of our selues in the sight of God pag. 149. That all things are to be referred vnto God as vnto the last end pag. 151. That despising the world it is sweet to serue God pag. 153. That the desires of our hart are to be examined moderated pag. 156. Of the effects of Patience and of strife against Concupiscence pag. 158. Of the hūble obedience of a subiect according to the example of Christ pag. 162. Of the secret Iudgments of God to be considered least we be extolled in our good deeds pag. 164. VVhat we ought to do and say in euery
and thy prayer directed vnto Christ without ceasing If thou canst not contemplate high and heauenly things rest thy selfe in the passion of Christ and dwell willingly in the wounds of his sacred body For if thou fly deuoutly vnto his holy wounds and to the precious markes of his passion thou shalt feele great comfort in tribulation neither wilt thou much care for being despised of men and wilt easily beare the wordes of slaunderous tongues 5. Christ was also in the world despised and in great necessity Matt. 1.12.5.26 Ioan. 15. forsaken by his acquaintāce friends in the middest of slaunders Christ would suffer and be contemned darest thou complaine Christ had aduersaries and backbiters and wilt thou haue all men thy friends benefactours For what shall thy patience be crowned 2. Tim. 21. if no aduersity happen vnto thee If thou wilt suffer no aduersity how wilt thou be the friend of Christ Suffer with Christ for Christ if thou desire to raigne with Christ 6. If thou haddest once perfectly entred into the hart of Iesus and tasted a little of his burning loue then wouldest thou not weigh thy owne commodity or discommodity but wouldest rather reioyce at flaunders when they should chance to be cast vpon thee for the loue of Iesus maketh a man to despise himselfe A louer of Iesus of truth a true spirituall person and free from inordinate affections can freely turne himselfe vnto God and lift himselfe aboue himselfe in spirit and with great ioy of his soule rest in God 7. He that iudgeth of all things as they are Esa 54. and not as they are said and esteemed to be is truly wise and taught rather by God then men He that can liue spiritually make small reckoning of outward things neither requireth places nor attendeth times for performing of deuout exercises A spiritual mā quickly recollecteth himselfe because he neuer yieldeth ouer himselfe wholy to outward things He is not hindred by outward labour or busines which may be necessary for the time but as things fall out so he frameth himselfe vnto them He that hath well ordered and disposed all things within careth little for the vaine inuentions and peruerse inclinations of men So much is a man hindred and distracted how much he draweth matters vnto himselfe 8. If all went well with thee and thou hadest thy hart well purged all things would fall out to thy good and profit But many things displease and often trouble thee Rom. 5. 1. Cor. 4. because thou art not yet perfectly dead vnto thy selfe nor free from the affection of earthly things Nothing so defileth and intangleth the hart of man as the impure loue to creatures If thou refuse outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate the things of heauen and often receiue internall ioy CHAP. II. Of humble submission RESPECT not much who is with thee or who is against thee Endeauour and take care that God may be for thee in euery thing thou doest Haue a good conscience Ps 27. and God will defend thee For whom God will help no malice of man can hurt If thou canst hould thy peace and suffer without doubt thou shalt see that our Lord wil help thee He knoweth the time and manner how to deliuer thee and therfore thou oughtest to resigne thy selfe vnto him It belongs to God to help and to deliuer from all shame Oftentimes it is very profitable for the better keeping of humility that others know and reprehend our faults 2. When a man humbleth himselfe for his faults then he easily pacifieth others and quickly satisfieth those that are offended with him God protecteth and deliuereth the humble he loueth and comforteth the humble vnto the humble man he inclineth himselfe vnto the humble he giueth great grace and after his humiliation he raiseth him vnto glory Matt. 11. Vnto the humble he reuealeth his secrets and sweetly draweth and inuiteth him vnto himself The humble when he hath receaued confusion is in peace for that he resteth in God and relieth not on the world Do not thinke that thou hast profited any thing vnlesse thou esteeme thy selfe inferiour to all CHAP. III. Of a good and peaceable man FIRST keep thy selfe in peace and then maist thou pacify others A peaceable man doth more good then he that is well learned A passionate man turneth good into euill and easily belieueth the worst A good peaceable man turneth all things into good 1. Cor. 15. He that is well in peace is not suspitious of any But he that is discontented troubled is tossed with diuers suspitions he is nether quiet himself nor suffereth others to be quiet He often speaketh that which he ought not to speake and omitteth that which were more expedient for him to do Matt. 7. He cōsidereth what others are boūd to do and neglecteth that which he is bound to himselfe First therfore haue a carefull zeale ouer thy selfe Act. 1. and then thou maist iustly shew thy selfe zealous of thy neighbours good 2. Thou knowest well how to excuse and colour thine owne deeds and thou wilt not receaue the excuses of others Gal. 6. It were more meet that thou didest accuse thy self and excusedst thy brother 1. Cor. 13. If thou wilt be borne withall beare also with another Behould how farre off thou art as yet from true charity and humility which knoweth not how to be angry with any or to be moued with indignation but only against himselfe It is no great matter to conuerse with the good and those that are of a gentle disposition 〈…〉 for that is naturally pleasing to all and euery one willingly enioyeth peace and loueth those best that agree with him But to be able to liue peaceably with the vnquiet peruerse minds or with the disorderly or such as contradict vs is a great grace and very commendable 3. Some there are that keep themselues in peace and are in peace also with others And there are some that neither are in peace themselues nor suffer others to be in peace they are troublesome to others but alwaies more troublesome to themselues And others there are that keep themselues in peace and labour to bring others vnto peace Our whole peace in this miserable life consisteth rather in humble suffering then in not feeling aduersities He that can best tell how to suffer will best keep himselfe in peace He is a conquerour of himselfe a Lord of the world friend of Christ and heyre of heauen CHAP. IIII. Of a pure mind and vpright intention VVITH two wings man is lifted vp from earthly vanities that is with simplicity purity Simplicity ought to be in our intention Purity in our affection Simplicity fixeth the eyes of the soule in God Purity apprehendeth and tasteth his sweetnes No good action will hinder thee if thou be inwardly free from inordinate affection If thou intend and seek nothing els but the will of
as long as aduersities happen not Many praise and blesse him as long as they receaue any comfort from him But if Iesus hide himself and leaue them but a while they fall either into complaint or into too much deiection of mind 2. But they that loue Iesus for Iesus and not for some comfort of their owne blesse him in all tribulation and anguish of hart as well as in the greatest cōfort And although he should neuer giue them comfort they notwithstanding would euer prayse him and alwaies giue him thankes 3. O how powerfull is the pure loue of Iesus Phil. 2. which is mixed with no selfe-loue nor proper interest Are they not all to be called hirelings that euer seeke comforts Do they not shew themselues to be rather louers of themselues then of Christ that alwaies thinke of their commoditie gaine Where may one be found that will serue God without looking for reward 4. It is hard to find any one so spirituall that is free from the loue of all earthly things For where is any that is indeed poore in spirit and free from all affection of creatures Far hence Prou. 31. and from the end of the world is his price If a man should giue all his wealth yet is it nothing And if he should do great pennance yet is it little And if he should attaine to all knowledg he is yet far off And if he should haue great vertue and very feruent deuotion yet there is much wanting to wit one thing which is most necessary for him Matt. 16. What is that That leauing all he forsake himselfe and go perfectly from himselfe and retaine nothing of selfe-loue And when he hath done al that he knoweth to be done let him thinke that he hath done nothing 5. Let him not weigh that much which might be much esteemed but according to truth let him affirme himselfe to be an vnprofitable seruant as our Sauiour hath sayd When you shall haue done al things that are commanded you say We are vnprofitable seruants Luc. 17. Then may he be truly poore in spirit and naked and say with the Prophet Psal 24. I am alone and poore yet no man richer no man more powerfull no man more free thē he that can leaue himselfe and all things and put himselfe in the meanest and lowest place CHAP. XII Of the high way of the holy Crosse VNTO many seemeth hard this speach Deny thy selfe take vp thy Crosse Matt. 16. and follow Iesus But it will be much harder to heare that last word Get yee away from me Matt. 15. yee cursed into euerlasting fire For they that now willingly heare and follow the word of the Crosse shall not then feare to heare the sentence of euerlasting damnation This signe of the Crosse shall be in heauen when our Lord shall come to iudgment Then all the seruants of the Crosse who in their life time conformed themselues vnto Christ crucified shal draw neer vnto our Lord with great confidence 2. Why therfore fearest thou to take vp the Crosse which leadeth thee to a kingdome In the Crosse is health in the Crosse is life in the Crosse is protection against our enemies in the Crosse is infusion of heauenly sweetnes in the Crosse is strength of mind in the Crosse is ioy of spirit in the Crosse is the height of vertue in the Crosse is the perfection of sanctity There is nor health of the soule nor hope of euerlasting life but in the Crosse Take vp therfore thy Crosse and follow Iesus thou shalt go into life euerlasting Luc. 14. He is gone before bearing his Crosse and is dead for thee on the Crosse Ioan. 19. that thou maiest also beare thy Crosse desire to dy on the Crosse with him For if thou dyest with him thou shalt also liue with him And if thou be his companion in payne 2. Cor. 1. thou shalt be partaker with him also in glory 3. Behould in the Crosse al doth consist and all lyeth in ending our life vpon it for there is no other way vnto life and vnto true inward peace but the way of the Holy Crosse and of daily mortification Go where thou wilt seeke whatsoeuer thou wilt thou shalt not find a higher way aboue nor a safer way below then the way of the holy Crosse Dispose order all thinges according to thy will and iudgment yet thou shall euer find that of necessity thou must suffer somewhat either willingly or against thy will so as thou shalt neuer fully auoide the Crosse For either thou shalt feele payne in thy body or in thy soule thou shalt suffer tribulation of spirit 4. Somtimes thou shalt be forsaken of God somtimes thou shalt be troubled by thy neighbours which is more oftentimes thou shalt be irksome to thy selfe neither canst thou be deliuered or eased by any remedy or comfort but so long as pleaseth God thou oughtest to beare it For God will haue thee learne to suffer tribulation without comfort and that thou submit thy selfe wholy to him and become more humble by tribulation No man hath so liuely a feeling of the passion of Christ as he who hath chaunced to suffer the like The Crosse therfore is alwayes ready euery where attendeth thee Thou canst not escape it whither soeuer thou flyest for whersoeuer thou goest thou carriest thy selfe with thee and shalt euer finde thy selfe both aboue and below without within which way soeuer thou doest turne thee alwayes thou shalt find the Crosse and euery where of necessity thou must haue patience if thou wilt haue inward peace and deserue an euerlasting Crowne 5. Yf thou beare the Crosse willingly it will beare thee and lead thee to thy desired end to wit where there shal be an end of suffering though heere there shall not Yf thou beare it vnwillingly thou makest for thy selfe a new burthen and increasest thy loade and yet notwithstanding thou must beare it Yf thou cast away one Crosse without doubt thou shalt find another that perhaps a more heauy 6. Thinkest thou to escape that which no man could euer auoyd Which of the Saintes in the world was without Crosses and tribulations Verily Iesus Christ our Lord was neuer one houre without paine of suffering so long as he liued Christ saith he ought to suffer Luc. 24. rise againe from death and so to enter into his glory and how doest thou seek any other way then this high way which is the way of the holy Crosse 7. The whole life of Christ was a Crosse and Martyrdome and doest thou seeke rest and ioy Thou art deceaued thou art deceaued if thou seekest any other thing then to suffer tribulations for this whole mortall life is full of miseries Iob. 7. and inuironed on euery side with Crosses And how much the more one hath profited in spirit so much the heauier Crosses he oftentymes findeth for the loue he beareth to
to trust in men but the safety of the iust o Lord is in thee Blessed be thou my God in all thinges that befall vs. We are weake and inconstant quickly deceaued and soone changed 2. Who is he that is able so warily to keep himselfe that he neuer fall into any deceipt or doubt But he that trusteth in thee o Lord and seeketh thee with a pure hart Prou. 10. doth not easily fall and if he fall into any tribulation be he neuer so much inthralled yet he shal quickly be deliuered or cōforted by thee For thou wilt not forsake him for euer that trusteth in thee The friend is rare to be found that continueth faithfull in his freinds distresse but thou o Lord thou alone art faithfull at all times and there is none like vnto thee 3. O how wise was that holy soule that said My mind is firmly setled and grounded in Christ If it were so with me then would not humane feare so easily trouble me nor words moue me Who can foresee all things Who is able to beware beforehand of future euills If things euen foreseene do oftētimes hurt vs how can things vnlooked for choose but wound vs grieuously But why did I not prouide better for my selfe miserable wretch Why also haue I so easily giuen credit to others But alas we are men and God knoweth weake fraile men although by many we are reputed and called Angels To whome shall I giue credit Lord to whome but to thee Thou art the truth that neither dost deceaue nor canst be deceaued And on the other side euery man is a liar weake vnconstant and subiect to fall especially in words and therfore we must not easily giue credit euen to that which in outward shew seemeth at the first a certaine truth 4. O with how great wisdome hast thou warned vs to take heed of men and because the enemies of man are his familiar and domestical acquaintance not to trust Matt. 7. if one should say Behould heere or behould there I am taught to my cost and I would to God I might therby increase my care and not my folly Be wary faith one be wary keep vnto thy selfe what I tell thee and whilst I hould my peace and think it is secret he cannot keep that secret which he desired should be secret but presently discloseth me and himselfe and goeth his way From such tales and such improuident people protect me Lord that I fall not into their hands nor euer commit such errours Giue me grace my God to obserue truth and constancy in my words and remoue far from me a deceiptfull tongue What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all meanes to auoid 5. O how good quiet a thing it is to be silent and not to talke of others nor to belieue all that is said nor easily to report what we haue heard Prou. 25. to lay ones self open to few Esa 24. alwayes to seeke after thee the behoulder of the hart not to be carried about with euery wind of wordes but to desire that all thinges both within without be accomplished according to thy will and pleasure How secure is it for the keeping of heauenly grace to fly the sight of men And not to seeke those things that seeme to cause admiration abroad but to follow that with all diligence which bringeth amendment of life and increase of feruour 6. To how many hath vertue knowne and ouer hastily commended bene hurtfull How profitable hath grace bene kept with silence in this mortall life which is nothing but a perpetuall temptation and a warfare CHAP. XLVI Of putting our trust in God when euill words arise SONNE †Our Lord. be constant and put thy trust in me For what are wordes but wordes They passe through the ayre but hurt not Psal 36. If thou be guiltie determine willingly to amend thy selfe if thou be innocent resolue to suffer this willingly at least for God It is a small matter to suffer sometimes a few words if thou hast not yet the courage to endure stripes And why do small matters go to thy hart but for that thou art yet carnall and regardest men more then thou oughtest Because thou art afraid to be despised therfore thou wilt not be reprehended for thy faults and therfore seekest shaddowes of excuses 2. But looke better into thy self and thou shalt see that the world yet liueth in thee and a vaine desire to please men For when thou refusest to be humbled reproued for thy faults it is surely euident that thou art neither truly humble nor dead to the world nor the world perfectly crucified to thee But giue diligent eare to my words and thou shalt little respect ten thousand wordes spoken by men Behould if al should be spoken against thee that could be most maliciously inuented what would it hurt thee if thou sufferedst it to passe madest no reckoning at all of it Matt. 10. Luc. 11. Could al those words pluck as much as one haire from thy head 3. But he that hath not his heart within him nor God before his eyes is easily moued with euery little dispraise when as he that trusteth in me and confideth not in his owne iudgement shall be free from humane feares For I am the Iudge and the discerner of all secrets I know how the matter passed Psal 7. I know him that offereth the iniury and him that suffereth it From me hath this word proceeded this hath happened by my permissiō that out of many harts thoughts may be reuealed I shall iudge the guilty the innocent Luc. 2. but by a secret iudgmēt I would before-hand try them both 4. The testimony of men oftētimes deceaueth my iudgment is alwaies true it shall stand and not be ouerthrowne It is cōmonly hidden and secret and not known in euery thing but to few notwithstanding it neuer erreth neither can it erre although to the eyes of the foolish it seemes not right Men ought therfore to returne to me in euery iudgment and not to stand in their owne opinions For the iust man will not be troubled Prou. 12. whatsoeuer happeneth vnto him for God and if any thing be wrongfully brought forth against him he will not much care neither will he vainely be glad if by others he be with reasō excused Psal 7. For he considereth that I am he that searcheth the hart reines do iudg not according to the outward face nor humane apparēce For that is oftētimes found culpable in my sight that in the iudgment of men is commendable 5. O Lord * The Seruant my God the iust Iudge strong patient thou knowest the frailty and peruersity of man be thou my strength all my trust for mine owne conscience sufficeth me not Thou knowest that which I cannot reach vnto and therfore in euery reprehension I ought to haue submitted my selfe to haue borne it patiently
and rather frame thy selfe to the profit of others then to thine owne deuotion or desire CHAP. XI That the Body of Christ and the holy Scripture are most necessary vnto a faythfull soule The voice of the Disciple OMOST sweet Lord Iesu how great is the delight of a deuout soule that feasteth with thee in thy banquet where there is no other meate offered to be eaten but thy selfe her only beloued and most to be desired aboue all the desires of her hart And verily it would be a great comfort vnto me to powre out teares from the bottome of my hart in thy presence Luc. 7. and with deuout Magdalen to wash thy feet with the teares of mine eyes But where is this deuotion Where is so plentifull shedding of holy teares Surely in the sight of thee and thy holy Angels my whole hart should be inflamed and dissolue into teares for ioy For I enioy thee in the Sacrament really present although hidden vnder another forme 2. For to behould thee in thine owne diuine brightnesse mine eyes would not be able to endure it neither could the whole world stand in the clearnesse of the glory of thy Maiesty Thou therfore prouidest for my weaknesse in that thou couerest thy selfe vnder the Sacrament I do really enioy and adore him whome the Angels adore in heauen but I as yet for the time in faith they in his proper forme and without shaddow I ought to be contented with the light of true faith and to walke therin vntill the day of euerlasting brightnesse breake forth and the shaddowes of figures passe away But when that shall come which is perfect 1. Cor. 13. the vse of Sacraments shall cease For the blessed in heauenly glory need not the remedy of Sacraments who reioyce without end in the presence of God behoulding his glory face to face and being trāsformed by his brightnesse into the brightnesse of the incomprehensible Deity they tast the word of God made flesh as he was from the beginning and as he remaineth for euer 3. Whilst I remember these thy wonderfull works all spirituall cōfort whatsoeuer becometh very tedious vnto me for that as long as I behould not my Lord openly in his glory I make no accompt of whatsoeuer I see or heare in this life Thou art my witnes o God that nothing can comfort me no creature giue me rest but thou my God whome I desire to behould euerlastingly But this is not possible whilst I remaine in this mortall life Therfore I must frame my selfe to much patience submit my selfe to thee in all my desires Heb 10. 11. For thy Saints also o Lord who now reioyce with thee in the Kingdome of heauen whilest they liued expected in faith and great patience the comming of thy glory What they belieued I belieue what they hoped for I expect whither they are come I trust I shall come by thy grace In the meane time I will goe forward in faith strengthened by the examples of the Saints I haue also deuout bookes for my comfort and for the guide of my life and aboue all these thy most holy Body for a singular remedie and refuge 4. For I perceaue two things to be chiefly necessary for me in this life without which this miserable life would be insupportable vnto me Whilst I am kept in the prison of this bodie I acknowledge my selfe to stand in need of two things to wit food and light Thou hast therfore giuen vnto me Ioan. 6. weake creature thy sacred Bodie for the refection of my soule bodie and hast set thy word as a light vnto my feet Psal 118. without these two I could not well liue For the word of God is the light of the soule thy Sacrament the bread of life Psal 22. Heb. 9. c 13. These also may be called the two tables set on the one side the other in the store-house of the holy Church One is the table of the holy Altar conteyning the sacred bread that is the precious body of Christ the other is of the diuine law conteyning holy doctrine teaching true faith and certainely leading to the part of the Temple within the veile where are the Holy of Holies Thanks be vnto thee Lord Iesu light of euerlasting light for thy table of holy doctrine at which thou seruest vs by thy seruants the Prophets and Apostles other Doctours 5. Thanks be vnto thee Creatour and Redeemer of man who to manifest thy charity to the whole world hast prepared a great supper Luc. 14. wherin thou hast offered to be eaten not the mysticall lambe but thine owne most sacred Body and Bloud Ioan. 6. reioycing all the faithfull with thy holy banquet and replenishing them to the full with thy heauenly Cuppe Psal 22. in which are all the delights of heauen Sap. 16. and the holy Angels do feast with vs but with a more happy sweetnesse 6. O how great and honorable is the office of Priests to whome it is graunted with sacred words to consecrate the Lord of Maiesty with their lips to blesse him with their hands to hould him with their own mouth to receaue him and to administer him to others O how cleane ought to be those hands How pure that mouth How holy the body How vnspotted the hart of the Priest into whome the Author of purity so often entreth Nothing but holy no word but chast and profitable ought to proceed from the mouth of the Priest which so often receaueth the Sacrament of Christ 7. Simple and chast ought to be the eyes that are wont to behould the body of Christ the hands pure and lifted vp to heauen that vse to handle the Creator of heauen and earth Vnto the Priests especially it is said in the Law Be ye holy Leuit. 19. 20. for that I your Lord God am holy 8. Assist vs Almighty God with thy grace that we who haue vndertaken the office of Priesthood may serue thee worthily and deuoutly in all purity and with a sincere conscience And if we cannot liue in so great innocency as we ought to do graunt vs notwithstanding in due manner to bewaile the sinnes which we haue committed and in the spirit of humility and sincere intention to serue thee heerafter with more feruour CHAP. XII That he that is to communicate ought to prepare himselfe with great diligence The voice of the Beloued I AM the louer of purity Psal 23. Matt. 5. and the giuer of all sanctitie I seek a pure hart and there is the place of my rest Marc. 14. Luc. 22. Make ready adorne for me a great chamber and I will make with thee the Pasch with my Disciples If thou wilt haue me come vnto thee and remaine with thee purge the old leauen 1. Cor. 5. and make cleane the dwelling of thy hart shut out the whole world and all tumult of vices sit like a sparrow